ETJ February Online Workshop: Effective Ways to Teach JHS and SHS Students

14:00 Presentation by Nicky Sekino Theme: Shadowing for JHS and SHS students

15:30 Break

15:40 Sharing Session: Participants will share materials.

16:20 Wrap Up

Bio: Nicky Sekino (M.A.) is an experienced teacher of English whose career started as an English instructor for Japanese and American universities and trade schools. Decades later today, he is no longer a sink-or-swim teacher, but a more mellow one, who uses strategies to make students honest about what they do not know. In his classes, many students feel less intimidated about their shortfalls such as lack of confidence and reluctance to initiate conversations. However, he draws a clear line between effective education and education with a lopsided emphasis on entertainment for the popular support of students. His current teaching context is adult education and his students are Japanese business-people.

Abstract: The 90-minute presentation will be given as a workshop, not as a lecture. During the workshop, participants will act as if they are students at junior high schools or high schools, who are taking a shadowing lesson. Since shadowing is a simple act, the workshop participants will be able to understand it without any difficulties and apply it in their respective classes. Shadowing is a conventional term to signify the act of repeating someone who either speaks or reads. Despite its simple principle, shadowing is effective for the training of speaking and listening. As a secondary benefit, it is good for reading comprehension, if someone reads texts. In more precise terms, the method is effective for the training of pronunciation, tone, fluency, listening, and possibly reading. With the selection of appropriate materials, it is highly beneficial for junior high school and high school students.

The workshop will introduce shadowing in three different forms: consecutive shadowing, simultaneous shadowing, and simultaneous shadowing with distraction. Consecutive shadowing is introduced to let the participants experience what it is. Simultaneous shadowing is introduced to let the participants experience serious training. Simultaneous shadowing with distraction is introduced to help improve listening comprehension. The participants will experience both giving and receiving ends of shadowing, which will help them understand that it is easy to give and challenging to receive. Yet, it is a fun activity that students will enjoy it. The material used in the workshop is Old Farmer and Persimmon Tree, an anecdote of a Japanese man in his childhood, which is appropriate for junior high school and high school students.

Nicky Sekino's workshop will be live-streamed. Those who wish to view the workshop, please contact Yuco ASAP. Please pre-register and receive handouts. To pre-rigster email Yuco Kikuchi, give your full name and phone number(s), stating onsite or on-line participation.

ELT means English Language Teaching. The ELT Calendar contains information about conferences, conventions, workshops, presentations and other events of professional interest to teachers of EFL (English as a Foreign Language) in Japan, and the research communities of SLA (Second Language Acquisition), TESOL (Teaching English as a Second or Other Language), TEFL (Teaching English as a Foriegn Language) and others relevant to language learning and teaching English in Japan.